Dotted with dried apricots and maraschino cherries, this tender coffee cake has a festive flavor and look. I love to serve it at Christmastime for my family, fellow teachers and students. It makes a welcome holiday gift, too.
-Linda Hollingsworth, Quitman, Mississippi

I make my festive-looking coffee cakes at Christmas and for breakfast company. My husband doesn't usually care for apricots, but he loves these. The holidays are a busy time on our small New England acreage. In addition to a few cattle and some chickens, we raise 50 turkeys every year! —Kelley Winship, West Rutland, Vermont

This has become my "trademark" dessert. I'm asked to take it everywhere I go! Diagonal cuts in the dough give this coffee cake a pretty look without the extra work of braiding it.
-Carolyn Gregory, Hendersonville, Tennessee

"Cranberries add a delightful tartness to this coffee cake that is a Christmas morning tradition for my family," writes Anne Keenan from Nevada City, California. "I make my own almond paste to use when making this treat." (You can find Anne's recipe by searching for "Homemade Almond Paste" in the Recipe Finder)

This coffee cake recipe is a variation of one a close friend and I make for our home baking business. I've used raspberries and blueberries in place of the rhubarb with winning results. —Lorraine Robinson, Stony Plain, Alberta

Mildred Sherrer of Bay City, Texas enhances the mild berry flavor of this moist coffee cake with a crunchy cinnamon filling. Bake in a fluted pan, it's pretty enough to serve for an afternoon party or Sunday brunch.

At our farm, we sometimes host tours of visitors to New England. I serve this special yeast bread to our guests first thing in the morning with coffee. It's also a regular on our family's Christmas menu.
-Vie Spence, Woburn, Massachusetts

Meet the Cook: Back almost 30 years ago, when I was an Indiana farmer's daughter and a 4-H'er, this won me champion honors at the county fair - then a blue ribbon at the state fair! To this day, my husband tells me it's the best thing that I make.
-Marna Krause, Las Vegas, Nevada